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Rodriguez Quinteros AC, Soler P, Larroza M, Morales JM, Gurevitz JM. Water temperature and microenvironmental factors predict the presence and detection of the snail host of Fasciola hepatica in Andean Patagonia. Vet Parasitol 2024; 329:110209. [PMID: 38823188 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
The transmission of Fasciola hepatica occurs only where there are -or recently were- aquatic or amphibious snails of the Lymnaeidae family, the intermediate host of this parasite. Direct detection of these snails is time-consuming and imprecise, hindering accurate and detailed mapping of transmission risk. To identify which microenvironmental factors could be used as proxies for the occurrence of the lymnaeid snail Galba viator, a major intermediate host in South America, a total of 183 1-m2 quadrants across diverse water bodies in an endemic area in Andean Patagonia were manually timed-searched for snails and microenvironmental variables were registered. Data was analyzed using a Bayesian hierarchical occupancy model that assessed the effects of the microenvironmental variables on the presence of snails while considering imperfect snail detection. The model estimated that G. viator predominantly inhabits shallow aquatic environments, in the presence of grasses, where snails of the genus Biomphalaria are also detected, and with scarce tree canopy cover. Physical factors affecting occupancy presumably act as proxies for the average water temperature, while the temperature at the time of sampling was found to affect snail detectability. The identified variables are easy, fast, and inexpensive to measure, and can complement management decisions and risk maps based on coarser remote-sensing data, particularly relevant in a context of growing resistance to anthelminthic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana C Rodriguez Quinteros
- Grupo de Ecología Cuantitativa, Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente (INIBIOMA), CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Comahue, S.C. de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina.
| | - Paula Soler
- Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (IFAB), INTA-CONICET, Modesta Victoria 4450, S.C. de Bariloche, Río Negro, 8400, Argentina
| | - Marcela Larroza
- Grupo de Salud Animal, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), EEA-Bariloche, S.C. de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina
| | - Juan M Morales
- Grupo de Ecología Cuantitativa, Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente (INIBIOMA), CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Comahue, S.C. de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina; School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Juan M Gurevitz
- Grupo de Ecología Cuantitativa, Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente (INIBIOMA), CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Comahue, S.C. de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina
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Aliyi H, Ahmed M, Gobena T, Alemu BM, Abdi Adem H, Aliyi Usso A. Prevalence and factors associated with Schistosoma mansoni infection among primary school children in Kersa District, Eastern Ethiopia. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17439. [PMID: 38887618 PMCID: PMC11182021 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease and an important parasite negatively impacting socio-economic factors. Ethiopia's Federal Ministry of Health targeted the elimination of schistosomiasis infection in school-aged children by 2020. However, Schistosoma mansoni still affects approximately 12.3 million school-aged children in Ethiopia. Although the study was conducted in some regions of the country, previous studies were conducted on urban school children and were limited to the burden of infection. Overall, there is a lack of information about schistosomiasis in eastern Ethiopia, particularly among school children. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with Schistosoma mansoni infection among primary school children in Kersa district, Eastern Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 419 school children using systematic random sampling from April 10 to May 09, 2019. The stool samples were collected and examined using the Keto-Katz method. A structured and pretested questionnaire was used to collect data from participants. Data were entered using Epi-Data version 3.1 and analysed using SPSS version 24. A bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with Schistosoma mansoni infection. P-value < 0.05 and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) (95% confidence interval (CI)) were used to identify statistically significant associations. Results This study's overall prevalence of S. mansoni was 19.4% (95% CI [16-23]). Absence of the latrines in household (AOR = 2.35, 95% CI [1.25-4.38]), swimming in the river (AOR = 2.82, 95% CI [1.33-5.88]), unprotected water sources (AOR = 3.5, 95% CI [1.72-7.10]), irregular shoe wearing habits (AOR = 2.81, 95% CI [1.51-5.23]), and water contact during cross of river (AOR = 2.192; 95% CI [1.113-4.318]) were factors independently associated with S. mansoni infection. Conclusion Schistosoma mansoni infection remains a public health problem in the study area. Using a latrine in each household, using protected water, wearing shoes regularly, and reducing water contact were necessary to control Schistosoma mansoni infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohammed Ahmed
- School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health and Medical Science, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia
| | - Tesfaye Gobena
- School of Public Health, College of Health and Medical Science, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia
| | - Bezatu Mengistie Alemu
- School of Public Health, Saint Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College, Adis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Hassen Abdi Adem
- School of Public Health, College of Health and Medical Science, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia
| | - Ahmedin Aliyi Usso
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health and Medical Science, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia
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Aslan IH, Pourtois JD, Chamberlin AJ, Mitchell KR, Mari L, Lwiza KM, Wood CL, Mordecai EA, Yu A, Tuan R, Palasio RGS, Monteiro AMV, Kirk D, Athni TS, Sokolow SH, N’Goran EK, Diakite NR, Ouattara M, Gatto M, Casagrandi R, Little DC, Ozretich RW, Norman R, Allan F, Brierley AS, Liu P, Pereira TA, De Leo GA. Re-assessing thermal response of schistosomiasis transmission risk: Evidence for a higher thermal optimum than previously predicted. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0011836. [PMID: 38857289 PMCID: PMC11207148 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The geographical range of schistosomiasis is affected by the ecology of schistosome parasites and their obligate host snails, including their response to temperature. Previous models predicted schistosomiasis' thermal optimum at 21.7°C, which is not compatible with the temperature in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) regions where schistosomiasis is hyperendemic. We performed an extensive literature search for empirical data on the effect of temperature on physiological and epidemiological parameters regulating the free-living stages of S. mansoni and S. haematobium and their obligate host snails, i.e., Biomphalaria spp. and Bulinus spp., respectively. We derived nonlinear thermal responses fitted on these data to parameterize a mechanistic, process-based model of schistosomiasis. We then re-cast the basic reproduction number and the prevalence of schistosome infection as functions of temperature. We found that the thermal optima for transmission of S. mansoni and S. haematobium range between 23.1-27.3°C and 23.6-27.9°C (95% CI) respectively. We also found that the thermal optimum shifts toward higher temperatures as the human water contact rate increases with temperature. Our findings align with an extensive dataset of schistosomiasis prevalence in SSA. The refined nonlinear thermal-response model developed here suggests a more suitable current climate and a greater risk of increased transmission with future warming for more than half of the schistosomiasis suitable regions with mean annual temperature below the thermal optimum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim Halil Aslan
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California, United States of America
| | - Julie D. Pourtois
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California, United States of America
| | - Andrew J. Chamberlin
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California, United States of America
| | - Kaitlyn R. Mitchell
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California, United States of America
| | - Lorenzo Mari
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Kamazima M. Lwiza
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Chelsea L. Wood
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Erin A. Mordecai
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Ao Yu
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Roseli Tuan
- Pasteur Institute, São Paulo Health Public Office, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Devin Kirk
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Tejas S. Athni
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Susanne H. Sokolow
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | | | | | | | - Marino Gatto
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Renato Casagrandi
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - David C. Little
- Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom
| | - Reed W. Ozretich
- Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel Norman
- Computing Science and Mathematics, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom
| | - Fiona Allan
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew S. Brierley
- Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Ping Liu
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Thiago A. Pereira
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Giulio A. De Leo
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California, United States of America
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Galavani H, Haniloo A, Raeghi S, Ghatee MA, Karamian M. Bioclimatic analysis and spatial distribution of fascioliasis causative agents by assessment of Lymnaeidae snails in northwestern provinces of Iran. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:244. [PMID: 38822348 PMCID: PMC11143584 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06298-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Snails of the Lymnaeidae family are the intermediate hosts of Fasciola species, the causative agents of fascioliasis. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of Fasciola species in lymnaeid snails and to investigate the association of geoclimatic factors and Fasciola species distribution in northwestern provinces of Iran using geographical information system (GIS) data. METHODS A total of 2000 lymnaeid snails were collected from 33 permanent and seasonal habitats in northwestern Iran during the period from June to November 2021. After identification by standard morphological keys, they were subjected to shedding and crushing methods. Different stages of Fasciola obtained from these snails were subjected to the ITS1 polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method for species identification. The associations of weather temperature, rainfall, humidity, evaporation, air pressure, wind speed, elevation, and land cover with the distribution of Fasciola species were investigated. Geographical and statistical analysis was performed using ArcMap and SPSS software, respectively, to determine factors related to Fasciola species distribution. RESULTS Of the 2000 snails collected, 19 were infected with Fasciola hepatica (0.09%), six with F. gigantica (0.03%), and 13 with other trematodes. Among geoclimatic and environmental factors, mean humidity, maximum humidity, and wind speed were significantly higher in areas where F. hepatica was more common than F. gigantica. The altitude of F. hepatica-prevalent areas was generally lower than F. gigantica areas. No significant relationship was observed between other investigated geoclimatic factors and the distribution of infected snails. CONCLUSIONS The present study showed the relationship of humidity and wind speed with the distribution of snails infected with F. hepatica or F. gigantica in the northwestern regions of Iran. In contrast to F. gigantica, F. hepatica was more prevalent in low-altitude areas. Further research is recommended to elucidate the relationship between geoclimatic factors and the presence of intermediate hosts of the two Fasciola species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Galavani
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Ali Haniloo
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Saber Raeghi
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Mohammad Amin Ghatee
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran.
| | - Mehdi Karamian
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
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Aslan IH, Pourtois JD, Chamberlin AJ, Mitchell KR, Mari L, Lwiza KM, Wood CL, Mordecai EA, Yu A, Tuan R, Palasio RGS, Monteiro AM, Kirk D, Athni TS, Sokolow SH, N’Goran EK, Diakite NR, Ouattara M, Gatto M, Casagrandi R, Little DC, Ozretich RW, Norman R, Allan F, Brierley AS, Liu P, Pereira TA, De Leo GA. Re-assessing thermal response of schistosomiasis transmission risk: evidence for a higher thermal optimum than previously predicted. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.01.04.24300851. [PMID: 38826336 PMCID: PMC11142288 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.04.24300851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
The geographical range of schistosomiasis is affected by the ecology of schistosome parasites and their obligate host snails, including their response to temperature. Previous models predicted schistosomiasis' thermal optimum at 21.7 °C, which is not compatible with the temperature in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) regions where schistosomiasis is hyperendemic. We performed an extensive literature search for empirical data on the effect of temperature on physiological and epidemiological parameters regulating the free-living stages of S. mansoni and S. haematobium and their obligate host snails, i.e., Biomphalaria spp. and Bulinus spp., respectively. We derived nonlinear thermal responses fitted on these data to parameterize a mechanistic, process-based model of schistosomiasis. We then re-cast the basic reproduction number and the prevalence of schistosome infection as functions of temperature. We found that the thermal optima for transmission of S. mansoni and S. haematobium range between 23.1-27.3 °C and 23.6-27.9 °C (95 % CI) respectively. We also found that the thermal optimum shifts toward higher temperatures as the human water contact rate increases with temperature. Our findings align with an extensive dataset of schistosomiasis prevalence in SSA. The refined nonlinear thermal-response model developed here suggests a more suitable current climate and a greater risk of increased transmission with future warming for more than half of the schistosomiasis suitable regions with mean annual temperature below the thermal optimum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim Halil Aslan
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - Julie D. Pourtois
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | | | - Kaitlyn R. Mitchell
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - Lorenzo Mari
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Kamazima M. Lwiza
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Stony Brook University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chelsea L. Wood
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Erin A. Mordecai
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ao Yu
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Roseli Tuan
- Pasteur Institute, São Paulo Health Public Office, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Devin Kirk
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Tejas S. Athni
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Susanne H. Sokolow
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Nana R. Diakite
- Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, 22 BP 770, Abidjan 22, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Mamadou Ouattara
- Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, 22 BP 770, Abidjan 22, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Marino Gatto
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Renato Casagrandi
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - David C. Little
- Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | | | - Rachel Norman
- Computing Science and Mathematics, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | - Fiona Allan
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - Andrew S. Brierley
- Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, UK
| | - Ping Liu
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Stony Brook University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Thiago A. Pereira
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Giulio A. De Leo
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
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Chowdhury S, Ricafrente A, Cwiklinski K, Sais D, Dalton JP, Tran N, Donnelly S. Exploring the utility of circulating miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers of fasciolosis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7431. [PMID: 38548871 PMCID: PMC10978983 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57704-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Effective management and control of parasitic infections on farms depends on their early detection. Traditional serological diagnostic methods for Fasciola hepatica infection in livestock are specific and sensitive, but currently the earliest detection of the parasite only occurs at approximately three weeks post-infection. At this timepoint, parasites have already entered the liver and caused the tissue damage and immunopathology that results in reduced body weight and loss in productivity. Here, we investigated whether the differential abundance of micro(mi)miRNAs in sera of F. hepatica-infected sheep has potential as a tool for the early diagnosis of infection. Using miRNA sequencing analysis, we discovered specific profiles of sheep miRNAs at both the pre-hepatic and hepatic infection phases in comparison to non-infected sheep. In addition, six F. hepatica-derived miRNAs were specifically identified in sera from infected sheep. Thus, a panel of differentially expressed miRNAs comprising four sheep (miR-3231-3p; miR133-5p; 3957-5p; 1197-3p) and two parasite miRNAs (miR-124-3p; miR-Novel-11-5p) were selected as potential biomarkers. The expression of these candidates in sera samples from longitudinal sheep infection studies collected between 7 days and 23 weeks was quantified using RT-qPCR and compared to samples from age-matched non-infected sheep. We identified oar-miR-133-5p and oar-miR-3957-5p as promising biomarkers of fasciolosis, detecting infection as early as 7 days. The differential expression of the other selected miRNAs was not sufficient to diagnose infection; however, our analysis found that the most abundant forms of fhe-miR-124-3p in sera were sequence variants (IsomiRs) of the canonical miRNA, highlighting the critical importance of primer design for accurate diagnostic RT-qPCR. Accordingly, this investigative study suggests that certain miRNAs are biomarkers of F. hepatica infection and validates miRNA-based diagnostics for the detection of fasciolosis in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumaiya Chowdhury
- The School of Life Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
| | - Alison Ricafrente
- The School of Life Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
| | - Krystyna Cwiklinski
- Centre for One Health, School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Dayna Sais
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - John P Dalton
- Centre for One Health, School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Nham Tran
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia.
| | - Sheila Donnelly
- The School of Life Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.
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Schols R, Smitz N, Vanderheyden A, Huyse T. Expanding the swimmer's itch pool of the Benelux: a first record of the neurotropic Trichobilharzia regenti and potential link to human infection. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:126. [PMID: 38481352 PMCID: PMC10938770 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06218-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Swimmer's itch, an allergic contact dermatitis caused by avian and mammalian blood flukes, is a parasitic infection affecting people worldwide. In particular, avian blood flukes of the genus Trichobilharzia are infamous for their role in swimmer's itch cases. These parasites infect waterfowl as a final host, but incidental infections by cercariae in humans are frequently reported. Upon accidental infections of humans, parasite larvae will be recognized by the immune system and destroyed, leading to painful itchy skin lesions. However, one species, Trichobilharzia regenti, can escape this response in experimental animals and reach the spinal cord, causing neuroinflammation. In the last few decades, there has been an increase in case reports across Europe, making it an emerging zoonosis. METHODS Following a reported case of swimmer's itch in Kampenhout in 2022 (Belgium), the transmission site consisting of a private pond and an adjacent creek was investigated through a malacological and parasitological survey. RESULTS Six snail species were collected, including the widespread Ampullaceana balthica, a well-known intermediate host for Trichobilharzia parasites. Shedding experiments followed by DNA barcoding revealed a single snail specimen to be infected with T. regenti, a new species record for Belgium and by extension the Benelux. Moreover, it is the most compelling case to date of the link between this neurotropic parasite and cercarial dermatitis. Additionally, an Echinostomatidae sp. and Notocotylus sp. were isolated from two other specimens of A. balthica. However, the lack of reference DNA sequences for these groups in the online repositories prevented genus- and species-level identification, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The presence of T. regenti in Belgium might have severe clinical implications and its finding highlights the need for increased vigilance and diagnostic awareness among medical professionals. The lack of species-level identification of the other two parasite species showcases the barcoding void for trematodes. Overall, these findings demonstrate the need for a Belgian framework to rapidly detect and monitor zoonotic outbreaks of trematode parasites within the One Health context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Schols
- Department of Biology & BopCo, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium.
- Laboratory of Aquatic Biology, KU Leuven, Campus Kortrijk, Kortrijk, Belgium.
| | - Nathalie Smitz
- Department of Biology & BopCo, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
| | - Ann Vanderheyden
- BopCo, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tine Huyse
- Department of Biology & BopCo, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
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8
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Tabo Z, Kalinda C, Breuer L, Albrecht C. Exploring the interplay between climate change and schistosomiasis transmission dynamics. Infect Dis Model 2024; 9:158-176. [PMID: 38268699 PMCID: PMC10805680 DOI: 10.1016/j.idm.2023.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease caused by parasitic worms, poses a major public health challenge in economically disadvantaged regions, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. Climate factors, such as temperature and rainfall patterns, play a crucial role in the transmission dynamics of the disease. This study presents a deterministic model that aims to evaluate the temporal and seasonal transmission dynamics of schistosomiasis by examining the influence of temperature and rainfall over time. Equilibrium states are examined to ascertain their existence and stability employing the center manifold theory, while the basic reproduction number is calculated using the next-generation technique. To validate the model's applicability, demographic and climatological data from Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, which are endemic East African countries situated in the tropical region, are utilized as a case study region. The findings of this study provide evidence that the transmission of schistosomiasis in human populations is significantly influenced by seasonal and monthly variations, with incidence rates varying across countries depending on the frequency of temperature and rainfall. Consequently, the region is marked by both schistosomiasis emergencies and re-emergences. Specifically, it is observed that monthly mean temperatures within the range of 22-27 °C create favorable conditions for the development of schistosomiasis and have a positive impact on the reproduction numbers. On the other hand, monthly maximum temperatures ranging from 27 to 33 °C have an adverse effect on transmission. Furthermore, through sensitivity analysis, it is projected that by the year 2050, factors such as the recruitment rate of snails, the presence of parasite egg-containing stools, and the rate of miracidia shedding per parasite egg will contribute significantly to the occurrence and control of schistosomiasis infections. This study highlights the significant influence of seasonal and monthly variations, driven by temperature and rainfall patterns, on the transmission dynamics of schistosomiasis. These findings underscore the importance of considering climate factors in the control and prevention strategies of schistosomiasis. Additionally, the projected impact of various factors on schistosomiasis infections by 2050 emphasizes the need for proactive measures to mitigate the disease's impact on vulnerable populations. Overall, this research provides valuable insights to anticipate future challenges and devise adaptive measures to address schistosomiasis transmission patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zadoki Tabo
- Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26 (iFZ), 35392 Giessen, Germany
- Department of Landscape Ecology and Resource Management, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26 (iFZ), 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Chester Kalinda
- Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26 (iFZ), 35392 Giessen, Germany
- Bill and Joyce Cummings Institute of Global Health, University of Global Health Equity | Kigali Heights, Plot 772 KG 7 Ave. PO Box 6955, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Lutz Breuer
- Department of Landscape Ecology and Resource Management, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26 (iFZ), 35392 Giessen, Germany
- Centre for International Development and Environmental Research (ZEU), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Senckenbergstrasse 3, 35390 Giessen, Germany
| | - Christian Albrecht
- Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26 (iFZ), 35392 Giessen, Germany
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9
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Hoang Quang V, Levecke B, Do Trung D, Devleesschauwer B, Vu Thi Lam B, Goossens K, Polman K, Callens S, Dorny P, Dermauw V. Fasciola spp. in Southeast Asia: A systematic review. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0011904. [PMID: 38232120 PMCID: PMC10843148 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fasciolosis is an emerging public health threat in a number of regions worldwide. To date, we lack an overview of both its occurrence and distribution in Southeast Asia across all actors involved in the life cycle, which impedes the development of disease control measures. Therefore, our objective was to collect recent information on the distribution and the prevalence of Fasciola spp. and the associated risk factors for infection in humans, animals, snails and plant carriers in Southeast Asia. METHODOLOGY Bibliographic and grey literature databases as well as reference lists of important review articles were searched for relevant records published between January 1st, 2000, and June 30th, 2022. The systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for reporting systematic reviews. A total of 3,887 records were retrieved, of which 100 were included in the final analysis. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The studies focused mainly on one host species (96.0%), with Fasciola spp. infection in animals being the most studied (72.0%), followed by humans (21.0%). Based on the used inclusion and exclusion criteria, reports were retrieved describing the presence of Fasciola spp. infection in seven out of 11 countries in Southeast Asia. Depending on the diagnostic tool applied, the prevalence of Fasciola spp. infection ranged between 0.3% and 66.7% in humans, between 0% and 97.8% in animals, and between 0% and 66.2% in snails. There were no studies reporting the presence of metacercariae on plant carriers. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Our study reconfirms that Fasciola spp. infections are widespread and highly prevalent in Southeast Asia, but it remains difficult to accurately assess the true occurrence of Fasciola spp. in absence of well-designed surveys covering all hosts. As next steps we propose to assess the occurrence of the infection across all actors involved in the transmission, to identify associated risk factors and to estimate the burden of the disease to support national and international decision makers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinh Hoang Quang
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bruno Levecke
- Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Dung Do Trung
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Brecht Devleesschauwer
- Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Binh Vu Thi Lam
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Kathy Goossens
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Katja Polman
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Steven Callens
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Pierre Dorny
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Veronique Dermauw
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
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10
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Recopuerto-Medina LM, Aguado ABM, Baldonado BMM, Bilasano RNB, Dullano SML, Molo JMR, Dagamac NHA. Predicting the potential nationwide distribution of the snail vector, Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi, in the Philippines using the MaxEnt algorithm. Parasitol Res 2023; 123:41. [PMID: 38095735 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08032-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis remains a major public health concern affecting approximately 12 million people in the Philippines due to inadequate information about the disease and limited prevention and control efforts. Schistosoma japonicum, one of the causative agents of the disease, requires an amphibious snail Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi (O. h. quadrasi) to complete its life cycle. Using the geographical information system (GIS) and maximum entropy (MaxEnt) algorithm, this study aims to predict the potential high-risk habitats of O. h. quadrasi driven by environmental factors in the Philippines. Based on the bioclimatic determinants, a very high-performance model was generated (AUC = 0.907), with the mean temperature of the driest quarter (25.3%) contributing significantly to the prevalence of O. h. quadrasi. Also, the snail vector has a high focal distribution, preferring areas with a pronounced wet season and high precipitation throughout the year. However, the findings provided evidence for snail adaptation to different environmental conditions. High suitability of snail habitats was found in Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Bohol, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Davao del Norte, North Cotabato, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Zamboanga del Sur. Furthermore, snail habitat establishment includes natural and man-made waterlogged areas, with the progression of global warming and climate change predicted to be drivers of increasing schistosomiasis transmission zones in the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loida M Recopuerto-Medina
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Santo Tomas, España, 1008, Manila, Philippines
| | - Andrea Bernice M Aguado
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Santo Tomas, España, 1008, Manila, Philippines
| | - Bianca Manuela M Baldonado
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Santo Tomas, España, 1008, Manila, Philippines
| | - Rica Nikki B Bilasano
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Santo Tomas, España, 1008, Manila, Philippines
| | - Sophia Miel L Dullano
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Santo Tomas, España, 1008, Manila, Philippines
| | - Justine Marie R Molo
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Santo Tomas, España, 1008, Manila, Philippines
| | - Nikki Heherson A Dagamac
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Santo Tomas, España, 1008, Manila, Philippines.
- Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Santo Tomas, España, 1008, Manila, Philippines.
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11
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Li H, Chen Y, Zhu Y, Feng Y, Qian Y, Ye X, Xu J, Yang H, Yu J, Chen J, Chen K. Exploring the immune interactions between Oncomelania hupensis and Schistosoma japonicum, with a cross-comparison of immunological research progress in other intermediate host snails. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:453. [PMID: 38093363 PMCID: PMC10717515 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06011-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis, the second largest parasitic disease in the world after malaria, poses a significant threat to human health and causes public health issues. The disease primarily affects populations in economically underdeveloped tropical regions, earning it the title of "neglected tropical disease". Schistosomiasis is difficult to eradicate globally if medication alone is used. One of the essential elements of thorough schistosomiasis prevention and control is the management and disruption of the life cycle of intermediate host snails. The key approach to controlling the transmission of schistosomiasis is to control the intermediate hosts of the schistosome to disrupt its life cycle. We believe that approaching it from the perspective of the intermediate host's immunity could be an environmentally friendly and potentially effective method. Currently, globally significant intermediate host snails for schistosomes include Oncomelania hupensis, Biomphalaria glabrata, and Bulinus truncatus. The immune interaction research between B. glabrata and Schistosoma mansoni has a history of several decades, and the complete genome sequencing of both B. glabrata and B. truncatus has been accomplished. We have summarized the immune-related factors and research progress primarily studied in B. glabrata and B. truncatus and compared them with several humoral immune factors that O. hupensis research focuses on: macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), Toll-like receptors (TLRs), and thioredoxin (Trx). We believe that continued exploration of the immune interactions between O. hupensis and Schistosoma japonicum is valuable. This comparative analysis can provide some direction and clues for further in-depth research. Comparative immunological studies between them not only expand our understanding of the immune defense responses of snails that act as intermediaries for schistosomes but also facilitate the development of more comprehensive and integrated strategies for schistosomiasis prevention and control. Furthermore, it offers an excellent opportunity to study the immune system of gastropods and their co-evolution with pathogenic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Li
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, China.
- Ocean College, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou, China.
| | - Yihan Chen
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yunhuan Zhu
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yilu Feng
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuncheng Qian
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyu Ye
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiatong Xu
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hanyu Yang
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiawei Yu
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jingyu Chen
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Keda Chen
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, China.
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12
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Dube A, Kalinda C, Manyangadze T, Mindu T, Chimbari MJ. Effects of temperature on the life history traits of intermediate host snails of fascioliasis: A systematic review. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011812. [PMID: 38048345 PMCID: PMC10721167 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The impact of climate change has led to variations in various biological processes, leading to altered transmission dynamics of infectious diseases, including snail-borne diseases (SBDs). Fascioliasis is one of the neglected zoonotic tropical snail-borne diseases caused by the trematode of the genus Fasciola. This review focused on laboratory experimental and model studies that evaluate the potential effect of temperature change on the ecology and biology of the intermediate host snails (IHS) of Fasciola. METHODS A literature search was conducted on Google Scholar, EBSCOhost, and PubMed databases using predefined medical subject heading terms, Boolean operators, and truncation symbols in combination with direct keywords: Fasciolosis AND Temperature, Lymnaea OR Austropeplea OR Radix OR Galba OR Fossaria OR Pseudosuccinea AND growth, fecundity, AND survival at the global scale. Other search terms used were (Fascioliasis AND Temperature), (Lymnaea AND Temperature), (Austropeplea AND Temperature), (Fossaria AND Temperature), (Galba AND Temperature), (Pseudosuccinea AND Temperature), and (Radix AND Temperature). RESULTS The final synthesis included thirty-five published articles. The studies reviewed indicated that temperature rise may alter the distribution, and optimal conditions for breeding, growth, and survival of IHS, ultimately resulting in changing the transmission dynamics of fascioliasis. The literature also confirmed that the life history traits of IHS and their interaction with the liver fluke parasites are driven by temperature, and hence climate change may have profound outcomes on the population size of snails, parasite density, and disease epidemiology. CONCLUSION We concluded that understanding the impact of temperature on the growth, fecundity, and survival of IHS may broaden our knowledge of the possible effects of climate change and hence inform fascioliasis control programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agrippa Dube
- School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Howard College Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Chester Kalinda
- School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Howard College Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), Bill and Joyce Cummings Institute of Global Health, Kigali Heights, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Tawanda Manyangadze
- School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Howard College Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- Geosciences Department, School Geosciences, Disaster and Sustainable Development, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Bindura University of Science and Technology, Bindura, Zimbabwe
| | - Tafadzwa Mindu
- School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Howard College Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Moses John Chimbari
- School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Howard College Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- Office of the Pro-Vice Chancellor: Academic Affairs, Research and Innovation, Great Zimbabwe University, Masvingo, Zimbabwe
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13
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Mowlavi G, Bargues MD, Najafi F, Naddaf SR, Salehabadi A, Vejdan AK, Salimi M, Fadavi A, Arab-Mazar Z, Mas-Coma S. Fasciola Infection Unexpectedly Found During Cholecystectomy: Review on How to Avoid Increasing Surgery Interventions in Non-human Endemic Areas. Acta Parasitol 2023; 68:891-902. [PMID: 37934346 PMCID: PMC10665236 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-023-00726-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Fascioliasis is caused by Fasciola hepatica of almost worldwide distribution and F. gigantica in wide regions of Asia and Africa. Their adult stage develops in the biliary canals and gallbladder. Infection follows an initial, 3-4 month long invasive, migratory or acute phase, and a several year-long biliary, chronic or obstructive phase. METHODS The unexpected finding of a fasciolid inside the gallbladder during a cholecystectomy for obstructive lithiasis suspicion in a patient is reported from an area of Iran where human infection had been never reported before and studies on fascioliasis in livestock are absent. RESULTS The fluke obtained was phenotypically classified as F. hepatica by morphometry and genotypically as F. gigantica by mtDNA cox1 fragment sequencing, although with F. hepatica scattered mutations in species-differing nucleotide positions. The clinical, radiological, and biological signs observed at the acute and chronic phases often lead to some misdiagnosis. Serological methods may be useful in cases of negative coprology. Diagnostic techniques with insufficient resolution leading to unnecessary invasive interventions are analyzed. The way to avoid unnecessary surgery is described, including analyses to be made, diagnostic tools to be used, and aspects to be considered. CONCLUSION Reaching a correct diagnosis in the confusing presentations avoids procedure delays and unnecessary surgery. A correct drug treatment may be sufficient. Except in extreme pathological presentations, lesions decrease in number and size and finally disappear or calcify after a successful treatment. Finally, the need to increase awareness of physicians about fascioliasis is highlighted, mainly in non-human endemic areas.
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Grants
- PI16/00520 Subprograma Estatal de Generación de Conocimiento de la Acción Estratégica en Salud (AES), Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación y Fondos FEDER, ISCIII-MINECO, Madrid, Spain;
- PROMETEO 2016/099 Conselleria de Cultura, Educación y Ciencia, Generalitat Valenciana
- 2021/004 Conselleria de Cultura, Educación y Ciencia, Generalitat Valenciana
- RD16/0027/0023 Red de Investigación de Centros de Enfermedades Tropicales - RICET, Ministry of Health and Consumption, Madrid
- CB21/13/00056 Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) de Enfermedades Infecciosas (ES)
- Red de Investigación de Centros de Enfermedades Tropicales – RICET, Ministry of Health and Consumption, Madrid
- Universitat de Valencia
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Affiliation(s)
- Gholamreza Mowlavi
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - María Dolores Bargues
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. Vicent Andres Estelles s/n, Burjassot, 46100, Valencia, Spain.
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos IIII, C/ Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Faezeh Najafi
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saied Reza Naddaf
- Department of Parasitology, Research Center for Emerging and Reemerging Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Salehabadi
- Department of Microbiology, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Amir Kazem Vejdan
- Department of General Surgery, Imam Reza Hospital, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Mahboobeh Salimi
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arezoo Fadavi
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Arab-Mazar
- Department of Microbiology, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Santiago Mas-Coma
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. Vicent Andres Estelles s/n, Burjassot, 46100, Valencia, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos IIII, C/ Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029, Madrid, Spain
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14
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Suwancharoen C, Phuangsri C, Siriwechviriya P, Bunsong T, Japa O. Diversity of trematode cercariae among naturally infected lymnaeid snails from Phayao, Thailand. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:2691-2708. [PMID: 37698606 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07971-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Lymnaeids are aquatic snails playing an important role in the transmission of many parasitic trematode species of veterinary and medical importance. In this study, we assessed the presence of cercarial flukes in naturally infected lymnaeid snails from Phayao province, Thailand, and determined the species diversity of both the intermediate snail hosts and parasite larvae. A total of 3,185 lymnaeid snails were collected from paddy fields at 31 sites in eight districts of Phayao province between October 2021 and December 2022. Larval fluke infection was assessed using the cercarial shedding method. The collected snails as well as emerging cercariae were identified at the species level via morphological and molecular methods. The sequences of snail internal transcribed spacer region 2 (ITS2) and cercarial 28S ribosomal RNA gene (28S rDNA) and cytochrome C oxidase1 (Cox1) were determined by PCR amplification and sequencing. Three species of lymnaeid snails were detected in this study, including Radix (Lymnaea) rubiginosa (Michelin, 1831), Radix (Lymnaea) swinhoei (Adams, 1866) and Austropeplea viridis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1832), of which R. rubiginosa was the most abundant, followed by A. viridis and R. swinhoei. The overall rate of trematode cercarial infection in the lymnaeid snails was 2.8% (90/3,185); the cercarial infection rate in R. rubiginosa and A. viridis was 3.5% (60/1,735) and 3.1% (30/981), respectively. No larval fluke infection was observed in the studied R. swinhoei (0/469). Nine morphotypes of cercariae were detected at 15 sites from four districts. The emerging cercariae were molecularly identified as Clinostomum sp., Aporocotylidae sp., Apharyngostrigea sp., Trichobilharzia sp., Apatemon sp., Pegosomum sp., Petasiger sp., Echinostoma revolutum and Plagiorchis sp. These findings emphasize the occurrence and diversity of trematode cercariae among naturally infected lymnaeid snails in Phayao province and could contribute to broadening our understanding of the host-parasite relationships between trematodes and their first intermediate hosts as well as developing effective interventions to control trematode parasitic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chittakun Suwancharoen
- Division of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Phayao, Muang, Phayao, 56000, Thailand
| | - Chorpaka Phuangsri
- Division of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Phayao, Muang, Phayao, 56000, Thailand
| | - Pannawich Siriwechviriya
- Division of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Phayao, Muang, Phayao, 56000, Thailand
| | - Thanakon Bunsong
- Division of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Phayao, Muang, Phayao, 56000, Thailand
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Ornampai Japa
- Division of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Phayao, Muang, Phayao, 56000, Thailand.
- Scientific Instrument and Product Standard Quality Inspection Center, University of Phayao, Phayao, Thailand.
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15
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Evensen KG, Figueroa AE, Goncalves AM, Chan TJ, Vu EB, Hounain I, Poynton HC. Prevalence and effects of a parasitic trematode on the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, in the Boston Harbor. Exp Parasitol 2023; 254:108624. [PMID: 37769835 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
The blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, is a keystone species in the North Atlantic that plays critical roles in nutrient cycling, water filtration, and habitat creation. Blue mussel populations have declined significantly throughout the North Atlantic due to various factors, including habitat loss, pollution, increasing water temperature, and parasites. One parasite is Proctoeces maculatus, a digenetic trematode, which uses M. edulis as an intermediate host. This parasite causes reduced growth, castration, and death in mussels. The range of P. maculatus has expanded northward from Cape Cod, MA to Maine which may be associated with rising temperatures in the Gulf of Maine. To evaluate the negative impacts of P. maculatus on mussels, we analyzed its infections in M. edulis throughout the Boston Harbor, MA. P. maculatus was present in every population and time point analyzed, with approximately 50% of mussels in the harbor infected. The parasite reduced gonadal development in infected mussels, which could lead to decreased fecundity. Severe P. maculatus infections induced a stress response, indicated by increased HSP70 expression. We developed a non-destructive hemolymph-based assay to determine if mussels are infected with P. maculatus, thus speeding up the evaluation process and eliminating the need to sacrifice individuals. With P. maculatus' continued expansion northward, more mussel populations will be under threat from this parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Tiffany J Chan
- University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, 02125, USA.
| | - Emily B Vu
- University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, 02125, USA.
| | - Isaac Hounain
- University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, 02125, USA.
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16
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Alshammari A, Gattan HS, Marzok M, Salem M, Al-Jabr OA, Selim A. Fasciola hepatica Infection in Horses in Three Governorates in Northern Egypt: Prevalence and Risk Factors. J Equine Vet Sci 2023; 130:104915. [PMID: 37652146 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Fasciola hepatica is a trematode parasite that affects wide range of mammalian hosts including horses. There are no epidemiological data on fasciolosis in Egyptian horses. Hence, the present study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of F. hepatica in horses using ELISA as well as assess the associated risk factors for fasciolosis infection. A total of 400 sera samples of horses from three Egyptian governorates were examined. The overall seroprevalence rate in horses was 13% and the disease was more prevalent in Qalubia (14.17%) and Gharbia (16.67%) which are located at Nile Delta. The likelihood of having F. hepatica seropositivity was higher in mixed-breed animals and stallions (OR = 3.97, 95%CI: 1.10-14.28 and OR = 2.07, 95%CI: 1.09-3.93, respectively), and in older horses more than 10 years (OR = 5.69, 95% CI: 1.98-16.36). Horses were more likely to be seropositive with F. hepatica when kept in outdoor housing (OR= 1.53, 95%CI: 0.78-3), during autumn (OR = 3.80, 95%CI: 1.17-12.32) and in the presence of snails (OR = 2.72, 95%CI: 1.34-5.52). Therefore, the obtained data contributes to the understanding of the epidemiology of Fasciola species, assess in establishment of management programmes to reduce disease and public health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayed Alshammari
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Hafr Al-Batin, Hafr Al-Batin, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hattan S Gattan
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahad Medical Research Center, King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed Marzok
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia; Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafr El Sheikh University, Kafr El Sheikh, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Salem
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia; Department of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Omar A Al-Jabr
- Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Asha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdelfattah Selim
- Department of Animal Medicine (Infectious Diseases), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Toukh, Egypt.
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Hadebe MI, Manyangadze T, Kalinda C, Mindu T, Chimbari MJ. Infection Rates of Fasciola Intermediate Host Snail Species and Their Distribution in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:467. [PMID: 37888595 PMCID: PMC10610779 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8100467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to collate the infection rates of Fasciola spp. in intermediate host snails and their distribution in Africa. The overall infectivity prevalences of Galba truncatula, Radix natalensis, and Pseudosuccinea columella are 52%, 8%, and 3%, respectively. The intermediate host snails native to Africa (R. natalensis and G. truncatula) have been examined more than the invasive P. columella. The studies included in the review ranged from 1999 to 2022. North Africa has the highest prevalence of G. truncatula, with an infection rate of 52%. The review reveals that naturally infected intermediate host snails (G. truncatula, R. natalensis, and P. columella) are found in various regions of Africa. G. truncatula accounts for 22% (from three countries) of the studies included in the review and it was only found in the North African region with the highest overall infection rate of 52%. More studies on infection rate and distribution are needed to effectively control and prevent future transmissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mpumelelo Ian Hadebe
- Discipline of Public Health and Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa; (T.M.); (C.K.); (T.M.); (M.J.C.)
| | - Tawanda Manyangadze
- Discipline of Public Health and Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa; (T.M.); (C.K.); (T.M.); (M.J.C.)
- Department of Geosciences, School of Geosciences, Disaster and Development, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Bindura University of Science Education, Bindura P.O. Box 1020, Zimbabwe
| | - Chester Kalinda
- Discipline of Public Health and Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa; (T.M.); (C.K.); (T.M.); (M.J.C.)
- Bill and Joyce Cummings Institute of Global Health, University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), P.O. Box 6955, Kigali 20093, Rwanda
| | - Tafadzwa Mindu
- Discipline of Public Health and Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa; (T.M.); (C.K.); (T.M.); (M.J.C.)
| | - Moses John Chimbari
- Discipline of Public Health and Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa; (T.M.); (C.K.); (T.M.); (M.J.C.)
- Department of Behavioural Science, Medical and Health Sciences, Great Zimbabwe University, Masvingo P.O. Box 1235, Zimbabwe
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Ibrahim N, Abdel Khalek EM, Makhlouf NA, Abdel-Gawad M, Mekky M, Ramadan HKA, Abu-Elfatth A, El-Latif NA, Hassan MK, Eldeeb R, Abdelmalek M, Abd-Elsalam S, Attia H, Mohammed AQ, Aboalam H, Farouk M, Alboraie M. Clinical characteristics of human fascioliasis in Egypt. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16254. [PMID: 37758788 PMCID: PMC10533839 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42957-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a lack of epidemiological data on fascioliasis in Egypt regarding disease characteristics and treatment outcomes across different governorates. We aimed to identify the demographic, epidemiologic, clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients diagnosed with fascioliasis in Egypt. Data on human fascioliasis were collected retrospectively from patients' medical records in the period between January 2018 and January 2020. The study included 261 patients. More than 40% of enrolled patients were in the age group of 21-40 years old. Geographically, 247 (94.6%) were from Assiut Governorate with 69.3% were from rural areas. The most frequent symptoms were right upper quadrant pain (96.9%), and fever (80.1%). Eosinophilia was found in 250 cases (95.8%). Hepatic focal lesions were detected in 131 (50.2%); out of them 64/131 (48.9%) had a single lesion. All patients received a single dose of 10 mg/kg of triclabendazole, 79.7% responded well to a single dose, while in 20.3% a second ± a third dose of treatment was requested. After therapy, there was a reduction in leucocytes, Fasciola antibodies titer, eosinophilic count, bilirubin, and liver enzymes with an increase in hemoglobin level. According to our findings, a high index of suspicion should be raised in cases with fever, right upper abdominal pain, and peripheral eosinophilia, and further imaging workup is mandated to detect hepatic focal lesions. Prompt treatment by triclabendazole can serve as a standard-of-care regimen even for suspected cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nagat Ibrahim
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Infectious Diseases, Assiut Liver Center, Ministry of Health, Assiut, Egypt
| | | | - Nahed A Makhlouf
- Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Muhammad Abdel-Gawad
- Hepatology, Gastroenterology, and Infectious Diseases Department, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, 71631, Egypt.
| | - Mohamed Mekky
- Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Haidi Karam-Allah Ramadan
- Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Abu-Elfatth
- Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Naglaa Abd El-Latif
- Parasitology Department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Marwa Khalaf Hassan
- Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology, Assiut Liver Center, Ministry of Health, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Rabab Eldeeb
- Tropical Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Abdelmalek
- Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | | | - Hanaa Attia
- General Manager of Endemic Diseases Control, Ministry of Health, Behera, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Qasem Mohammed
- Hepatology, Gastroenterology, and Infectious Diseases Department, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, 71631, Egypt
| | - Hani Aboalam
- Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology, Assiut Liver Center, Ministry of Health, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud Farouk
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology, Luxor University, Luxor, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Alboraie
- Department of Internal Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
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Zhang H, Wang J, Mehmood K, Li K. Editorial: Trematode infection in ruminants, volume II. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1258751. [PMID: 37645674 PMCID: PMC10461614 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1258751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jia Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Khalid Mehmood
- Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - Kun Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
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20
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Mas-Coma S, Valero MA, Bargues MD. One Health for fascioliasis control in human endemic areas. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:650-667. [PMID: 37385922 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica are liver flukes causing fascioliasis, a worldwide zoonotic, complex disease. Human infection/reinfection occurs in endemic areas where preventive chemotherapy is applied, because of fasciolid transmission ensured by livestock and lymnaeid snail vectors. A One Health control action is the best complement to decrease infection risk. The multidisciplinary framework needs to focus on freshwater transmission foci and their environment, lymnaeids, mammal reservoirs, and inhabitant infection, ethnography and housing. Local epidemiological and transmission knowledge furnished by previous field and experimental research offers the baseline for control design. A One Health intervention should be adapted to the endemic area characteristics. Long-term control sustainability may be achieved by prioritizing measures according to impact depending on available funds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Mas-Coma
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. Vicente Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, - Valencia, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5. Pabellón 11. Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
| | - M Adela Valero
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. Vicente Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, - Valencia, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5. Pabellón 11. Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - M Dolores Bargues
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. Vicente Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, - Valencia, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5. Pabellón 11. Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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Douchet P, Gourbal B, Loker ES, Rey O. Schistosoma transmission: scaling-up competence from hosts to ecosystems. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:563-574. [PMID: 37120369 PMCID: PMC10880732 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
In a One-Health context, it is urgent to establish the links between environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and the circulation of pathogens. Here we review and literally draw a general vision of aquatic environmental factors that interface with Schistosoma species, agents of schistosomiasis, and ultimately modulate their transmission at the ecosystem scale. From this synthesis, we introduce the concept of ecosystem competence defined as 'the propensity of an ecosystem to amplify or mitigate an incoming quantity of a given pathogen that can be ultimately transmitted to their definitive hosts'. Ecosystem competence integrates all mechanisms at the ecosystem scale underlying the transmission risk of a given pathogen and offers a promising measure for operationalizing the One-Health concept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Douchet
- IHPE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, Univ Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, France
| | - Benjamin Gourbal
- IHPE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, Univ Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, France
| | - Eric S Loker
- Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology (CETI), Parasite Division - Museum of Southwestern Biology, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Olivier Rey
- IHPE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, Univ Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, France.
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22
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Bulla-Castañeda DM, Lancheros-Buitrago DJ, García-Corredor DJ, C-Giraldo-Forero J, Pulido-Medellin MO. Seroprevalence and risk factors of bovine fasciolosis in the municipalities of Colombia. Vet World 2023; 16:1293-1300. [PMID: 37577203 PMCID: PMC10421548 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2023.1293-1300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim Bovine fasciolosis is a reemerging neglected disease with a worldwide distribution caused by the trematode Fasciola spp., which parasitize various hosts. Bovine fasciolosis is responsible for large economic losses in the bovine livestock sector. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence and risk factors of bovine fasciolosis in the municipalities of Colombia. Materials and Methods This was a descriptive cross-sectional study with simple random sampling conducted on 1140 cattle from the municipalities of Chiquinquirá, San Miguel de Sema, and Ubaté for a duration of 3 months. Serum samples were processed using the commercial Fasciola hepatica Antibody Test Kit IDEXX® Fasciolosis Verification (IDEXX, United States), which identified immunoglobulin G antibodies for gf2 antigen purified from Fasciola extracts. The f2 antigen is extremely immunogenic and highly specific for F. hepatica. An epidemiological survey was performed to record variables related to the sampled animals and herd management practices. Data were processed using the statistical program Epi Info® (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Atlanta, Georgia). The prevalence ratio was estimated to evaluate the association between fasciolosis and the hypothesized causal factors and the significance of this association using Pearson's Chi-square test. Finally, a logistic regression model was developed. Results The overall seroprevalence was 72.3%. The seroprevalence was 83.9% (323/385) in Chiquinquirá, 68.17% (257/377) in Ubaté, and 64.55% (244/378) in San Miguel de Sema. The seroprevalence was higher in male animals in Chiquinquirá and in female animals in San Miguel de Sema and Ubaté. Similarly, sex showed a statistically significant association with disease prevalence in Ubaté. The highest prevalence was found in cattle aged >2 years. The Holstein breed showed maximum seroprevalence in Chiquinquirá (p ≤ 0.05) and San Miguel de Sema, whereas crossbreed showed higher seroprevalence in Ubaté. Similarly, in Chiquinquirá, the association between the seroprevalence of fasciolosis and the presence of other species was statistically significant (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.9601-3.4944; p = 0.0448). In Ubaté, the disease presentation was also associated with pasture rental (95% CI: 0.4047-1.0023; p = 0.003) and attendance to livestock expositions (95% CI: 0.2313-1.0636; p = 0.044). However, in San Miguel de Sema, water from the stream showed a statistically significant association with disease presentation (95% CI: 0.5209-1.0985; p = 0.00649785). Female sex and diarrhea occurrence were considered risk factors for fasciolosis. Conclusion A high seroprevalence of antibodies to Fasciola spp. was detected in cattle in the study municipalities, indicating a high parasite distribution in these areas. Female sex and diarrhea were established as risk factors associated with fasciolosis in Ubaté and San Miguel de Sema, respectively. Further, research is necessary to establish prevention and control programs against parasitosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana María Bulla-Castañeda
- Research Group in Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia, Tunja, Colombia
| | | | - Diego Jose García-Corredor
- Research Group in Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia, Tunja, Colombia
| | - Julio C-Giraldo-Forero
- Research Group in Parasitology and Tropical Microbiology, Biology Program, Universidad INCCA de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
- Research Group in Ecoepidemiology and Collective Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Martin Orlando Pulido-Medellin
- Research Group in Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia, Tunja, Colombia
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23
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Evaluation of in vivo anthelmintic efficacy of certain indigenous plants against experimentally- induced Ascaridia galli infection in local birds (Gallus domesticus). Exp Parasitol 2023; 247:108476. [PMID: 36739959 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The present study was an attempt to evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of certain indigenous plants against experimentally induced Ascaridia galli infection in local birds (Gallus domesticus). Two indigenous plants viz., Nyctanthes arbor-tristis and Butea monosperma were used based on indigenous technical knowledge (ITK) and ethno-medical uses. Three types of extracts, viz. ethanolic, hydro-ethanolic and aqueous extracts of each of the two plants were prepared and three doses at the rate of 100, 500 and 1000 mg/kg were used for in vivo studies. Piperazine hydrate liquid was used as standard drug at 200 mg/kg body weight. All biochemical and haematological parameters showed a significant increase from 14th day post treatment in birds of all the groups treated with N. arbor-tristis extract at all the doses irrespective of the solvent used. However, the increase in biochemical and haematological parameters with B. monosperma was observed from 21st day of post treatment in all the groups at all the doses. Similarly, piperazine treated group also showed significant increase from 14th day of post treatment. There was significant reduction in egg output in the droppings of the birds treated with ethanolic, hydroethanolic and aqueous extracts of N. arbor-tristis and B. monosperma when compared with infected controls from 7th day onwards.
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Inceboz T. Introductory Chapter: Changes in Eco-System Change Echinococci - “One Health Concept” against Echinococci. Infect Dis (Lond) 2023. [DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.109303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
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25
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Cuervo PF, Artigas P, Lorenzo-Morales J, Bargues MD, Mas-Coma S. Ecological Niche Modelling Approaches: Challenges and Applications in Vector-Borne Diseases. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:tropicalmed8040187. [PMID: 37104313 PMCID: PMC10141209 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8040187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) pose a major threat to human and animal health, with more than 80% of the global population being at risk of acquiring at least one major VBD. Being profoundly affected by the ongoing climate change and anthropogenic disturbances, modelling approaches become an essential tool to assess and compare multiple scenarios (past, present and future), and further the geographic risk of transmission of VBDs. Ecological niche modelling (ENM) is rapidly becoming the gold-standard method for this task. The purpose of this overview is to provide an insight of the use of ENM to assess the geographic risk of transmission of VBDs. We have summarised some fundamental concepts and common approaches to ENM of VBDS, and then focused with a critical view on a number of crucial issues which are often disregarded when modelling the niches of VBDs. Furthermore, we have briefly presented what we consider the most relevant uses of ENM when dealing with VBDs. Niche modelling of VBDs is far from being simple, and there is still a long way to improve. Therefore, this overview is expected to be a useful benchmark for niche modelling of VBDs in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Fernando Cuervo
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. Vicent Andres Estelles s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos IIII, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5. Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - Patricio Artigas
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. Vicent Andres Estelles s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos IIII, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5. Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jacob Lorenzo-Morales
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos IIII, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5. Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Av. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez s/n, 38203 La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - María Dolores Bargues
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. Vicent Andres Estelles s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos IIII, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5. Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Santiago Mas-Coma
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. Vicent Andres Estelles s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos IIII, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5. Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Foodborne Parasites and Their Complex Life Cycles Challenging Food Safety in Different Food Chains. Foods 2022; 12:foods12010142. [PMID: 36613359 PMCID: PMC9818752 DOI: 10.3390/foods12010142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Zoonotic foodborne parasites often represent complex, multi host life cycles with parasite stages in the hosts, but also in the environment. This manuscript aims to provide an overview of important zoonotic foodborne parasites, with a focus on the different food chains in which parasite stages may occur. We have chosen some examples of meat-borne parasites occurring in livestock (Taenia spp., Trichinella spp. and Toxoplasma gondii), as well as Fasciola spp., an example of a zoonotic parasite of livestock, but transmitted to humans via contaminated vegetables or water, covering the 'farm to fork' food chain; and meat-borne parasites occurring in wildlife (Trichinella spp., Toxoplasma gondii), covering the 'forest to fork' food chain. Moreover, fish-borne parasites (Clonorchis spp., Opisthorchis spp. and Anisakidae) covering the 'pond/ocean/freshwater to fork' food chain are reviewed. The increased popularity of consumption of raw and ready-to-eat meat, fish and vegetables may pose a risk for consumers, since most post-harvest processing measures do not always guarantee the complete removal of parasite stages or their effective inactivation. We also highlight the impact of increasing contact between wildlife, livestock and humans on food safety. Risk based approaches, and diagnostics and control/prevention tackled from an integrated, multipathogen and multidisciplinary point of view should be considered as well.
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Jedlickova L, Peterkova K, Boateng EM, Ulrychova L, Vacek V, Kutil Z, Jiang Z, Novakova Z, Snajdr I, Kim J, O’Donoghue AJ, Barinka C, Dvorak J. Characterization of glutamate carboxypeptidase 2 orthologs in trematodes. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:480. [PMID: 36539882 PMCID: PMC9768917 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05556-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glutamate carboxypeptidase 2 (GCP2) belongs to the M28B metalloprotease subfamily encompassing a variety of zinc-dependent exopeptidases that can be found in many eukaryotes, including unicellular organisms. Limited information exists on the physiological functions of GCP2 orthologs in mammalian tissues outside of the brain and intestine, and such data are completely absent for non-mammalian species. Here, we investigate GCP2 orthologs found in trematodes, not only as putative instrumental molecules for defining their basal function(s) but also as drug targets. METHODS Identified genes encoding M28B proteases Schistosoma mansoni and Fasciola hepatica genomes were analyzed and annotated. Homology modeling was used to create three-dimensional models of SmM28B and FhM28B proteins using published X-ray structures as the template. For S. mansoni, RT-qPCR was used to evaluate gene expression profiles, and, by RNAi, we exploited the possible impact of knockdown on the viability of worms. Enzymes from both parasite species were cloned for recombinant expression. Polyclonal antibodies raised against purified recombinant enzymes and RNA probes were used for localization studies in both parasite species. RESULTS Single genes encoding M28B metalloproteases were identified in the genomes of S. mansoni and F. hepatica. Homology models revealed the conserved three-dimensional fold as well as the organization of the di-zinc active site. Putative peptidase activities of purified recombinant proteins were assayed using peptidic libraries, yet no specific substrate was identified, pointing towards the likely stringent substrate specificity of the enzymes. The orthologs were found to be localized in reproductive, digestive, nervous, and sensory organs as well as parenchymal cells. Knockdown of gene expression by RNAi silencing revealed that the genes studied were non-essential for trematode survival under laboratory conditions, reflecting similar findings for GCP2 KO mice. CONCLUSIONS Our study offers the first insight to our knowledge into M28B protease orthologs found in trematodes. Conservation of their three-dimensional structure, as well as tissue expression pattern, suggests that trematode GCP2 orthologs may have functions similar to their mammalian counterparts and can thus serve as valuable models for future studies aimed at clarifying the physiological role(s) of GCP2 and related subfamily proteases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Jedlickova
- grid.15866.3c0000 0001 2238 631XDepartment of Zoology and Fisheries, Center of Infectious Animal Diseases, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food, and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, 16521 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Kristyna Peterkova
- grid.15866.3c0000 0001 2238 631XDepartment of Zoology and Fisheries, Center of Infectious Animal Diseases, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food, and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, 16521 Prague 6, Czech Republic ,grid.4491.80000 0004 1937 116XDepartment of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 12844 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Enoch Mensah Boateng
- grid.15866.3c0000 0001 2238 631XDepartment of Zoology and Fisheries, Center of Infectious Animal Diseases, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food, and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, 16521 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Ulrychova
- grid.4491.80000 0004 1937 116XDepartment of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 12844 Prague 2, Czech Republic ,grid.418095.10000 0001 1015 3316Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo N. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtech Vacek
- grid.15866.3c0000 0001 2238 631XDepartment of Zoology and Fisheries, Center of Infectious Animal Diseases, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food, and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, 16521 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Zsofia Kutil
- grid.418095.10000 0001 1015 3316Laboratory of Structural Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV, Průmyslová 595, 252 42 Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Zhenze Jiang
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
| | - Zora Novakova
- grid.418095.10000 0001 1015 3316Laboratory of Structural Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV, Průmyslová 595, 252 42 Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Ivan Snajdr
- grid.418095.10000 0001 1015 3316Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo N. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Juan Kim
- grid.15866.3c0000 0001 2238 631XDepartment of Zoology and Fisheries, Center of Infectious Animal Diseases, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food, and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, 16521 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Anthony J. O’Donoghue
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
| | - Cyril Barinka
- grid.418095.10000 0001 1015 3316Laboratory of Structural Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV, Průmyslová 595, 252 42 Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Dvorak
- grid.15866.3c0000 0001 2238 631XDepartment of Zoology and Fisheries, Center of Infectious Animal Diseases, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food, and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, 16521 Prague 6, Czech Republic ,grid.418095.10000 0001 1015 3316Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo N. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic ,grid.15866.3c0000 0001 2238 631XFaculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, 16521 Prague 6, Czech Republic
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Rondelaud D, Vignoles P, Dreyfuss G. Changes in the Populations of Two Lymnaeidae and Their Infection by Fasciola hepatica and/or Calicophoron daubneyi over the Past 30 Years in Central France. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12243566. [PMID: 36552486 PMCID: PMC9774278 DOI: 10.3390/ani12243566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Field investigations were carried out during three periods (from 1976 to 1997, in 2013-2014, and in 2020-2021) on 39 cattle-raising farms on acidic soils to track changes in the populations of two Lymnaeidae (Galba truncatula and Omphiscola glabra) and their infection with Fasciola hepatica and/or Calicophoron daubneyi. Compared to the survey between 1976 and 1997 on these farms, there was a significant decrease in the number of the two lymnaeid populations and the size of the G. truncatula populations in both 2013-2014 and 2020-2021. This decline was significantly faster in the last nine years than it was before 2013. The area of habitats colonized by G. truncatula showed no significant variation over the years, while that of habitats with O. glabra significantly decreased in the period covered by the three surveys. The prevalence of F. hepatica infection in snails significantly decreased over the years, while C. daubneyi infection increased over time in both lymnaeid species. These changes are due to the use of triclabendazole to treat fasciolosis in ruminants since the 1990s, and are probably a consequence of the successive heatwaves that have occurred since 2018 in the region.
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Tookhy NA, Nur-Mahiza MI, Mansor R, Yasmin AR, Ahmad NI, Hamzah NH, Idri LH. Rumen Fluke in Cattle and Buffaloes in Asia: A Review. PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE 2022; 45:781-803. [DOI: 10.47836/pjtas.45.3.15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Rumen fluke is a parasitosis that infects ruminant animals across a wide geographical range of countries. It is a severe infection in temperate and tropical climate regions of Asia, Australia, Africa, and Europe, which cause significant economic losses. In this review, the available information to date on rumen fluke species infecting cattle and buffaloes in Asian countries is evaluated. The citation search was performed through specific keywords, literature published from 1964 to 2021, retrieved from electronic databases: Scopus, Web of Science, Pub Med, Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), Science Direct, Elsevier, and Google Scholar. Twenty-six (26) rumen fluke species belonging to two families: Paramphistomidae 61.5% (16/26) and Gastrothylacidae 38.4% (10/26), were reported in cattle and buffaloes in fourteen Asian countries. Paramphistomum cervi and Cotylophoron cotylophorum are the most prevalent species with broader distribution in countries than the other genera. The coprological prevalence varies from 0.8% to 98.17% and 0.86% to 78.4% in cattle and buffaloes, respectively. The prevalence of rumen fluke by fluke counts method range between 6.45% to 90.6% and 4.29% to 75.07% in cattle and buffaloes, respectively. The sedimentation method and fluke count are reliable tests for detecting rumen fluke in live and slaughtered animals. In conclusion, the rumen fluke should be considered a critical production disease that affects cattle and buffaloes in Asia. Further studies are necessary to determine the rumen fluke-snail associations, develop diagnostic tests to detect prepatent infections in the definitive host, determine the economic importance of rumen fluke, and determine the efficacy of different anthelmintic in the treatment of patent infections in the definitive host.
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Nyagura I, Malatji MP, Mukaratirwa S. Occurrence of Fasciola (Digenea: Fasciolidae) Species in Livestock, Wildlife and Humans, and the Geographical Distribution of Their Intermediate Hosts in South Africa—A Scoping Review. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:935428. [PMID: 35937292 PMCID: PMC9347419 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.935428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
This review was conducted to provide an update on the status of the occurrence of Fasciola species in livestock, wildlife and humans, and the geographical distribution of snail intermediate host (IH) species in South Africa. The literature search was conducted on four electronic databases using the Boolean operators in combination with predetermined search terms for thematic analysis. Results showed that Fasciola species have been reported in six out of nine provinces of South Africa in the last six decades (1960–2021), with both F. hepatica and F. gigantica infecting vertebrate hosts and F. hepatica and Fasciola spp infecting humans. Results also showed that most studies relied on morphological identification of eggs and flukes without molecular confirmation, which might have led to the misidentification of specimens, especially when immature. Fasciola hepatica has been documented in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. The occurrences of Galba truncatula as the probable snail IH for F. hepatica in the three provinces has been documented while Pseudosuccinea columella has only been documented in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. The occurrence of F. gigantica to date has been reported in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, with overlapping distribution with F. hepatica. Radix natalensis, the main IH of F. gigantica has been documented in all the three provinces, while the two alien Radix species (R. auricularia and R. rubiginosa) were documented in KwaZulu-Natal province and have been implicated elsewhere with the transmission of F. gigantica. The presence of Fasciola spp eggs and antibodies in humans were documented in the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape provinces, where both P. columella and G. truncatula are known to be present. The prevalence of Fasciola spp infection in livestock ranged from 9.1 to 37.67 %, with an estimated annual financial loss ranging from R44930.26-129901 in cattle production in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. This review reaffirms the scarcity of information on the occurrence and burden of fasciolosis in South Africa, and further highlights the importance of future research covering all provinces of the country and assessing the public health significance of the disease in resource-poor livestock communities in the areas where the parasite is endemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignore Nyagura
- School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Mokgadi Pulane Malatji
- School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- Foundational Research and Services, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Samson Mukaratirwa
- School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- One Health Centre for Zoonoses and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
- *Correspondence: Samson Mukaratirwa
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Bithyniid snails as hosts of Opisthorchiidae and Notocotylidae in the south of Western Siberia, Russia. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:2367-2377. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07558-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Cercariae of a Bird Schistosome Follow a Similar Emergence Pattern under Different Subarctic Conditions: First Experimental Study. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11060647. [PMID: 35745501 PMCID: PMC9227376 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11060647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of cercariae from infected mollusks is considered one of the most important adaptive strategies for maintaining the trematode life cycle. Short transmission opportunities of cercariae are often compensated by periodic daily rhythms in the cercarial release. However, there are virtually no data on the cercarial emergence of bird schistosomes from freshwater ecosystems in northern latitudes. We investigated the daily cercarial emergence rhythms of the bird schistosome Trichobilharzia sp. “peregra” from the snail host Radix balthica in a subarctic lake under both natural and laboratory seasonal conditions. We demonstrated a circadian rhythm with the highest emergence during the morning hours, being seasonally independent of the photo- and thermo-period regimes of subarctic summer and autumn, as well as relatively high production of cercariae at low temperatures typical of northern environments. These patterns were consistent under both field and laboratory conditions. While light intensity triggered and prolonged cercarial emergence, the temperature had little effect on cercarial rhythms but regulated seasonal output rates. This suggests an adaptive strategy of bird schistosomes to compensate for the narrow transmission window. Our results fill a gap in our knowledge of the transmission dynamics and success of bird schistosomes under high latitude conditions that may serve as a basis for elucidating future potential risks and implementing control measures related to the spread of cercarial dermatitis due to global warming.
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Loker ES, DeJong RJ, Brant SV. Scratching the Itch: Updated Perspectives on the Schistosomes Responsible for Swimmer's Itch around the World. Pathogens 2022; 11:587. [PMID: 35631108 PMCID: PMC9144223 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11050587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Although most studies of digenetic trematodes of the family Schistosomatidae dwell on representatives causing human schistosomiasis, the majority of the 130 identified species of schistosomes infect birds or non-human mammals. The cercariae of many of these species can cause swimmer's itch when they penetrate human skin. Recent years have witnessed a dramatic increase in our understanding of schistosome diversity, now encompassing 17 genera with eight more lineages awaiting description. Collectively, schistosomes exploit 16 families of caenogastropod or heterobranch gastropod intermediate hosts. Basal lineages today are found in marine gastropods and birds, but subsequent diversification has largely taken place in freshwater, with some reversions to marine habitats. It seems increasingly likely that schistosomes have on two separate occasions colonized mammals. Swimmer's itch is a complex zoonotic disease manifested through several different routes of transmission involving a diversity of different host species. Swimmer's itch also exemplifies the value of adopting the One Health perspective in understanding disease transmission and abundance because the schistosomes involved have complex life cycles that interface with numerous species and abiotic components of their aquatic environments. Given the progress made in revealing their diversity and biology, and the wealth of questions posed by itch-causing schistosomes, they provide excellent models for implementation of long-term interdisciplinary studies focused on issues pertinent to disease ecology, the One Health paradigm, and the impacts of climate change, biological invasions and other environmental perturbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric S. Loker
- Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology, Parasites Division, Museum of Southwestern Biology, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA;
| | - Randall J. DeJong
- Department of Biology, Calvin University, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, USA;
| | - Sara V. Brant
- Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology, Parasites Division, Museum of Southwestern Biology, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA;
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Born-Torrijos A, van Beest GS, Vyhlídalová T, Knudsen R, Kristoffersen R, Amundsen PA, Thieltges DW, Soldánová M. Taxa-specific activity loss and mortality patterns in freshwater trematode cercariae under subarctic conditions. Parasitology 2022; 149:457-468. [PMID: 35331353 PMCID: PMC11010473 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182021002006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Cercarial activity and survival are crucial traits for the transmission of trematodes. Temperature is particularly important, as faster depletion of limited cercarial energy reserves occurs at high temperatures. Seasonal climate conditions in high latitude regions may be challenging to complete trematode life cycle during the 6-month ice-free period, but temperature effects on the activity and survival of freshwater cercariae have not been previously identified. After experimentally simulating natural subarctic conditions during warmer and colder months (13 and 6°C), a statistical approach identifying changes in the tendency of cercarial activity loss and mortality data was used to detect differences in three trematode genera, represented by four taxa (Diplostomum spp., Apatemon spp., small- and large-sized Plagiorchis spp.). A strong temperature-dependent response was identified in both activity loss and mortality in all taxa, with Diplostomum spp. cercariae showing the most gradual changes compared to other taxa. Furthermore, whilst activity loss and mortality dynamics could not be divided into ‘fish- vs invertebrate-infecting cercariae’ groups, the detected taxa-specific responses in relation to life-history traits indicate the swimming behaviour of cercariae and energy allocation among larvae individuals as the main drivers. Cercariae exploit the short transmission window that allows a stable continuance of trematodes’ life cycles in high-latitude freshwater ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Born-Torrijos
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Gabrielle S. van Beest
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Cavanilles Institute for Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Science Park, University of Valencia, P.O. Box 22085, 46071Valencia, Spain
| | - Tereza Vyhlídalová
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Branišovská 31, 37005České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Rune Knudsen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, N9037Tromsø, Norway
| | - Roar Kristoffersen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, N9037Tromsø, Norway
| | - Per-Arne Amundsen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, N9037Tromsø, Norway
| | - David W. Thieltges
- Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, P.O. Box 59, 1790, AB Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands
| | - Miroslava Soldánová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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Yu A, Vannatta JT, Gutierrez SO, Minchella DJ. Opportunity or catastrophe? effect of sea salt on host-parasite survival and reproduction. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0009524. [PMID: 35202408 PMCID: PMC8870500 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Seawater intrusion associated with decreasing groundwater levels and rising seawater levels may affect freshwater species and their parasites. While brackish water certainly impacts freshwater systems globally, its impact on disease transmission is largely unknown. This study examined the effect of artificial seawater on host-parasite interactions using a freshwater snail host, Biomphalaria alexandrina, and the human trematode parasite Schistosoma mansoni. To evaluate the impact of increasing salinity on disease transmission four variables were analyzed: snail survival, snail reproduction, infection prevalence, and the survival of the parasite infective stage (cercariae). We found a decrease in snail survival, snail egg mass production, and snail infection prevalence as salinity increases. However, cercarial survival peaked at an intermediate salinity value. Our results suggest that seawater intrusion into freshwaters has the potential to decrease schistosome transmission to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ao Yu
- Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
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Spatial variation of life-history traits in Bulinus truncatus, the intermediate host of schistosomes, in the context of field application of niclosamide in Côte d’Ivoire. BMC ZOOL 2022; 7:7. [PMID: 37170324 PMCID: PMC10127057 DOI: 10.1186/s40850-021-00104-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Control of intermediate host snails using molluscicides for the control and/or elimination of schistosomiasis is a strategy in line with WHO recommendations. Niclosamide is the main chemical molluscicide recommended by WHO. However, except the immediate killing of the snail, the extent of the impact of the molluscicide application on the evolution of snail life-history traits, in relation to recolonization of treated sites is not well known. This study aimed to characterize the spatial variation of life-history traits of populations of the freshwater snail Bulinus truncatus, in relation to niclosamide spraying in the field.
From 2016 to 2018, we conducted a trial, using niclosamide to control the intermediate host snails for interrupting the seasonal transmission of urinary schistosomiasis in northern and central Côte d’Ivoire. Five villages (sites) were considered, including three test and two control villages. In the test villages, the molluscicide was sprayed in habitats harboring B. truncatus snails three times a year (November, February–March and June). We sampled six B. truncatus populations: two populations from the control villages without any treatment; one collected before treatment and three sampled 2–3 months after treatment of the site with niclosamide. The snail populations were monitored for several life-history traits, including survival, growth, fecundity and hatchability, under laboratory conditions, over one generation (G1). We tested the population, region (North/Centre) and treatment status (treated/untreated) effects on the variation of the measured life-history traits and correlations between pairs of traits were estimated.
Results
On the whole, the traits varied among populations. The risk of death was lower in northern populations compared to central ones. The age at first reproduction was reached earlier with a smaller size of snails in northern populations. Values of first reproduction features (size and fecundity) were lower in treated snail populations. The overall growth of untreated populations was higher than that of treated ones. The late fecundity and egg hatching were higher in northern than in central snails. At first reproduction, age was negatively correlated with some fecundity parameters. However, growth was positively associated with fecundity.
Conclusions
Our study showed a spatial variation of life-history traits in B. truncatus snails. The mollusciciding seems to have led to the depression of some life-history traits in the snail populations. However, investigations should be carried out over several generations of snails to better clarify the impact of niclosamide on the evolution of the life-history traits.
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Adla K, Dejan K, Neira D, Dragana Š. Degradation of ecosystems and loss of ecosystem services. One Health 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-822794-7.00008-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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Landeryou T, Rabone M, Allan F, Maddren R, Rollinson D, Webster BL, Tchuem-Tchuenté LA, Anderson RM, Emery AM. Genome-wide insights into adaptive hybridisation across the Schistosoma haematobium group in West and Central Africa. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010088. [PMID: 35100291 PMCID: PMC8803156 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis remains a public health concern across sub-Saharan Africa; current control programmes rely on accurate mapping and high mass drug administration (MDA) coverage to attempt disease elimination. Inter-species hybridisation can occur between certain species, changing epidemiological dynamics within endemic regions, which has the potential to confound control interventions. The impact of hybridisation on disease dynamics is well illustrated in areas of Cameroon where urogenital schistosomiasis, primarily due to Schistosoma haematobium and hybrid infections, now predominate over intestinal schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma guineensis. Genetic markers have shown the ability to identify hybrids, however the underlying genomic architecture of divergence and introgression between these species has yet to be established. In this study, restriction site associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) was used on archived adult worms initially identified as; Schistosoma bovis (n = 4), S. haematobium (n = 9), S. guineensis (n = 3) and S. guineensis x S. haematobium hybrids (n = 4) from Mali, Senegal, Niger, São Tomé and Cameroon. Genome-wide evidence supports the existence of S. guineensis and S. haematobium hybrid populations across Cameroon. The hybridisation of S. guineensis x S. haematobium has not been demonstrated on the island of São Tomé, where all samples showed no introgression with S. haematobium. Additionally, all S. haematobium isolates from Nigeria, Mali and Cameroon indicated signatures of genomic introgression from S. bovis. Adaptive loci across the S. haematobium group showed that voltage-gated calcium ion channels (Cav) could play a key role in the ability to increase the survivability of species, particularly in host systems. Where admixture has occurred between S. guineensis and S. haematobium, the excess introgressive influx of tegumental (outer helminth body) and antigenic genes from S. haematobium has increased the adaptive response in hybrids, leading to increased hybrid population fitness and viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toby Landeryou
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- The Natural History Museum, Department of Life Sciences, London, United Kingdom
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research (LCNTDR), Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Muriel Rabone
- The Natural History Museum, Department of Life Sciences, London, United Kingdom
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research (LCNTDR), Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Fiona Allan
- The Natural History Museum, Department of Life Sciences, London, United Kingdom
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research (LCNTDR), Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rosie Maddren
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research (LCNTDR), Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David Rollinson
- The Natural History Museum, Department of Life Sciences, London, United Kingdom
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research (LCNTDR), Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bonnie L. Webster
- The Natural History Museum, Department of Life Sciences, London, United Kingdom
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research (LCNTDR), Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Roy M. Anderson
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research (LCNTDR), Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Aidan M. Emery
- The Natural History Museum, Department of Life Sciences, London, United Kingdom
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research (LCNTDR), Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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Japa O, Suwancharoen C, Bunsong T, Phuangsri C. Parasitological and molecular characterization of the avian schistosomatid cercariae infecting lymnaeidae snails in Phayao, Northern Thailand. Vet World 2021; 14:2655-2661. [PMID: 34903922 PMCID: PMC8654750 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2021.2655-2661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim: Cercarial dermatitis or swimmer’s itch is an allergic skin reaction caused by penetrating cercaria of animal blood flukes. It is considered as a zoonotic water-borne skin condition that is found globally. Among the schistosomatid trematodes, avian schistosomes are the most responsible for cercarial dermatitis. Very little is known regarding the occurrence of dermatitis-causing cercariae in Thailand. Therefore, the objective of this study was to preliminarily investigate the presence of larval blood fluke infection among local lymnaeidae snails in Phayao by the incorporation of morphological and molecular methods. Materials and Methods: Overall 500 Radix (Lymnaea) rubiginosa (Michelin, 1831) were collected from freshwater reservoirs near Phayao Lake in San Kwan village in Phayao, Thailand, from October to December 2020. The snails were examined for avian blood fluke infection by the cercarial shedding technique followed by morphological and molecular characterization. Results: Only one type of furcocercous cercaria was observed to emerge from six infected snails (1.2%). Our molecular analyses demonstrated that the emerging cercariae showed most similarity to either the 28S ribosomal RNA gene (28S rDNA) or cytochrome oxidase C subunit 1 gene (cox1 or COI) sequences to those of Trichobilharzia species. In addition, phylogenetic tree analyses of both loci revealed similar results; the emerging cercariae were consistently clustered together with Trichobilharzia regenti. Conclusion: Our results clearly confirmed that the detected furcocercous cercariae belonged to the genus Trichobilharzia and displayed the highest homology to T. regenti. This study provides important data on the occurrence of dermatitis causing cercariae infection among local lymnaeidae snails, encouraging effective management, and control measures for this zoonotic infectious disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ornampai Japa
- Division of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Phayao, Thailand.,Scientific Instrument and Product Standard Quality Inspection Center, University of Phayao, Thailand
| | - Chittakun Suwancharoen
- Division of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Phayao, Thailand
| | - Thanakon Bunsong
- Division of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Phayao, Thailand
| | - Chorpaka Phuangsri
- Division of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Phayao, Thailand
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Dermauw V, Muchai J, Al Kappany Y, Fajardo Castaneda AL, Dorny P. Human fascioliasis in Africa: A systematic review. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0261166. [PMID: 34882738 PMCID: PMC8659297 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Fascioliasis is a globally distributed, parasitic zoonosis, caused by Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica. A comprehensive overview of the epidemiology of human fascioliasis in Africa is missing up to now. Therefore, our objective was to conduct a systematic review aiming to summarize recent knowledge on the distribution, prevalence, and risk factors of human fascioliasis in Africa. A key word search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science and Africa Wide, to gather relevant literature, published between the 1st of January 2000 and 31st of December 2020. A total of 472 records were initially retrieved, with 40 full text articles retained for the qualitative synthesis. Human fascioliasis was reported in 12 African countries, namely Algeria, Angola, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South-Africa, Tanzania and Tunisia. The majority of the studies was conducted in Egypt. A total of 28 records were population surveys. Coproscopy was the most commonly used tool for fascioliasis diagnosis in these surveys. Gender (being female), consumption of raw vegetables/seeds, age, owning livestock, and use of unsafe drinking water sources, were identified as risk factors in 7 studies. Furthermore, 43 case reports were retrieved, described in 12 studies. Eosinophilia was present in 39 of these cases, while 11 had positive coproscopy results. Eight cases described having eaten raw wild vegetables. Overall, the low number and quality of records retrieved indicates that human fascioliasis remains a truly neglected disease in Africa, and more epidemiological studies are urgently needed to both establish the actual distribution as well as risk factors on the continent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronique Dermauw
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- * E-mail:
| | - Joan Muchai
- Somalia Country Office, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Yara Al Kappany
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | | | - Pierre Dorny
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
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Buffalo Infection by Fasciola gigantica Transmitted by Radix acuminata in Uttar Pradesh, India: A Molecular Tool to Improve Snail Vector Epidemiology Assessments and Control Surveillance. Acta Parasitol 2021; 66:1396-1405. [PMID: 34019279 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-021-00414-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Fascioliasis is caused by Fasciola species transmitted by freshwater Lymnaeidae snails and infecting herbivorous mammals and humans worldwide. In southern Asia, fascioliasis is a problem in livestock from the Near East to Bangladesh, where recent human infection reports are worrying. In this region, Fasciola gigantica is transmitted by species of the Radix auricularia superspecies group. In the densely populated northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, livestock appears infected throughout. The economic importance of buffaloes highlights the need to control their very high infection rates. METHODS In the Gorakhpur area, a molecular method based on the two specific primer sets of genomic DNA was applied to fasciolids from buffaloes slaughtered in local abattoirs and cercariae from R. acuminata snails from freshwater collections. RESULTS PCR products and sequences demonstrated that the cercariae belonged to F. gigantica and that R. acuminata acts as vector for its transmission to buffaloes. The 72.0% rate found in one transmission focus appears to be the highest worldwide record of fasciolid infection in a lymnaeid population. Lymnaeid prevalences and burdens found close to human communities indicate a very high infection risk. CONCLUSION This method is simple, fast and cheap because there is no need for sequencing, it differentiates between fasciolid species and between fasciolids and other trematodes infecting R. acuminata, facilitates epidemiological surveys, and is useful for surveillance to evaluate the efficiency of control measures. Within climate change predictions, future increases of rain events and floods suggest the need for control and surveillance efforts in this endemic area.
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Ahmad T, Imran M, Ahmad K, Khan M, Baig M, Al-Rifai RH, Al-Omari B. A Bibliometric Analysis and Global Trends in Fascioliasis Research: A Neglected Tropical Disease. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:3385. [PMID: 34944162 PMCID: PMC8698141 DOI: 10.3390/ani11123385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Fascioliasis is a zoonotic neglected tropical disease caused by Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica. In endemic regions, fascioliasis represents a huge problem in livestock production and significantly threatens public health. The present study was performed to assess the key bibliometric indicators, plot the global research outcome, and strive to find the research frontiers and trends in fascioliasis. Methods: A descriptive bibliometric and visualized study was conducted. The data were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database. The WoSCC was searched using key terms covering a wide range of synonyms related to the causative agent (Fasciola) and the disease (fascioliasis). The database search was performed for the period from the inception of WoSCC until 3 October 2021. The downloaded data were exported into VOSviewer software version 1.6.17 for Windows to construct co-authorship countries, keywords co-occurrence, bibliographic coupling sources, and citation and documents network visualization. Results: A total of 4165 documents were included in this bibliometric analysis. The included documents were published between the years 1913 and 2021 from 116 countries, mainly from the United States of America (USA) (n = 482, 11.6%). The most prolific year was 2018 (n = 108). The journal that attracted the most publications was Veterinary Parasitology (n = 324), while the most productive author in this area was Rondelaud D (n = 156). In terms of total link strength (TLS), the most influential country was Spain (TLS = 236), followed by the USA (TLS = 178). Conclusion: This study is of value for veterinarians, doctors, and researchers to explore insights into research frontiers and trends in research on fascioliasis. The number of publications on fascioliasis has increased over time. Above 35% of publications have been produced by the USA, France, England, and Spain. "Fasciola hepatica" and "cattle" were the most dominant and widely used keywords. Research collaboration should be established among the researchers from developing countries with developed countries to learn new advancements and effective control strategies for fascioliasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tauseef Ahmad
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China;
| | - Muhammad Imran
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine in Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 25289, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Kabir Ahmad
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Cerebral Diseases, Department of Physiology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116000, China;
| | - Muhammad Khan
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Hazara University Mansehra, Mansehra 21120, Pakistan;
| | - Mukhtiar Baig
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 25289, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Rami H. Al-Rifai
- Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirate University, Al Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Basem Al-Omari
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates
- KU Research and Data Intelligence Support Center (RDISC) AW 8474000331, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates
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Sumbele IUN, Tabi DB, Teh RN, Njunda AL. Urogenital schistosomiasis burden in school-aged children in Tiko, Cameroon: a cross-sectional study on prevalence, intensity, knowledge and risk factors. Trop Med Health 2021; 49:75. [PMID: 34530935 PMCID: PMC8444581 DOI: 10.1186/s41182-021-00362-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed at determining urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS) prevalence, intensity, knowledge and risk factors in school-aged children (SAC) in the new endemic focus of Tiko, Cameroon. Methods A cross-sectional study including 389 SAC of both sexes aged 5–15 years was carried out between April and June 2018. A structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic data, clinical and predisposing factors. Urine sample collected was used to detect Schistosoma haematobium eggs by filtration technique and microhaematuria by Heme dipstick COMBI 11. Logistic regression model was used to determine risk factors of UGS. Results The overall prevalence of UGS was 37.0% (CI 32.4–41.9) and 32.6% (CI 28.2–37.5) were positive by egg excretion while 24.4% (CI 20.4–28.9) by haematuria. S. haematobium egg excretion and haematuria were significantly higher in males (P = 0.016; P = 0.049) and children 12–15 years old (P = 0.009; P = 0.002), respectively. The mean number of eggs per 10 mL of urine was 77.6 (10.2) and ranged from 2 to 400. The proportion of light intensity of infection was higher (67.7%, CI 59.2–75.2) with no significant differences by sex, age and residence. However, the older children were more heavily infected when compared to the younger children, who had more of light infection. Overall, the mean knowledge score 1.42 (CI 1.32–1.51) on a scale of 6, was poor and the proportion of good knowledge of the disease (23.14%, CI 19.2–27.6) was low. Stream water contact (AOR = 4.94; P = 0.001) was the only significant risk factor identified. Conclusion Urogenital schistosomiasis is of public health concern among SAC in Tiko, Cameroon. Most participants have poor knowledge about the disease, hence education on vector-borne diseases and the avoidance of stream water contact should be implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Ule Ngole Sumbele
- Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Doris Bennen Tabi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Rene Ning Teh
- Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
| | - Anne Longdoh Njunda
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
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DNA Multi-Marker Genotyping and CIAS Morphometric Phenotyping of Fasciola gigantica-Sized Flukes from Ecuador, with an Analysis of the Radix Absence in the New World and the Evolutionary Lymnaeid Snail Vector Filter. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11092495. [PMID: 34573461 PMCID: PMC8472080 DOI: 10.3390/ani11092495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Fasciolid flukes collected from sheep and cattle in Ecuador showed a high diversity in DNA sequences whose analyses indicated introductions from South America, European and North American countries. These results agree with the numerous livestock importations performed by Ecuador. Abnormally big-sized liver flukes were found in Ecuadorian sheep. The morphometric phenotypic CIAS study showed that its size maximum and mean very pronouncedly and significantly surpassed those of the Fasciola hepatica populations from South America and Spain and proved to be intermediate between standard F. hepatica and F. gigantica populations. Such a feature is only known in intermediate fasciolid forms in Old World areas where the two species and their specific lymnaeid snail vectors overlap. This argues about a past hybridization after F. gigantica importation from Pakistan and/or introduction of intermediate hybrids previously generated in USA. The lack of heterozygotic rDNA ITS positions differentiating the two species, and of introgressed fragments and heteroplasmic positions in mtDNA genes, indicate a post-hybridization period sufficiently long as for rDNA concerted evolution to complete homogenization and mtDNA to return to homoplasmy. The vector specificity filter due to Radix absence should act as a driving force in accelerating such lineage evolution. Public health implications are finally emphasized. Abstract Fascioliasis is a disease caused by Fasciola hepatica worldwide transmitted by lymnaeid snails mainly of the Galba/Fossaria group and F. gigantica restricted to parts of Africa and Asia and transmitted by Radix lymnaeids. Concern has recently risen regarding the high pathogenicity and human infection capacity of F. gigantica. Abnormally big-sized fasciolids were found infecting sheep in Ecuador, the only South American country where F. gigantica has been reported. Their phenotypic comparison with F. hepatica infecting sheep from Peru, Bolivia and Spain, and F. gigantica from Egypt and Vietnam demonstrated the Ecuadorian fasciolids to have size-linked parameters of F. gigantica. Genotyping of these big-sized fasciolids by rDNA ITS-2 and ITS-1 and mtDNA cox1 and nad1 and their comparison with other countries proved the big-sized fasciolids to belong to F. hepatica. Neither heterozygotic ITS position differentiated the two species, and no introgressed fragments and heteroplasmic positions in mtDNA were found. The haplotype diversity indicates introductions mainly from other South American countries, Europe and North America. Big-sized fasciolids from Ecuador and USA are considered to be consequences of F.gigantica introductions by past livestock importations. The vector specificity filter due to Radix absence should act as driving force in the evolution in such lineages.
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Rojas-Campos T, Ibarra-Velarde F, Vera-Montenegro Y, Flores-Ramos M, Cruz-Mendoza I, Leyva-Gómez G, Hernández-Campos A. Effectiveness of an experimental injectable prodrug formulation against Fasciola hepatica of different ages in experimentally infected sheep. Vet Parasitol 2021; 298:109524. [PMID: 34271317 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2021.109524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In this work, we present an evaluation of the fasciolicidal efficacy of a new injectable formulation of fosfatriclaben in comparison with the subcutaneous closantel and oral triclabendazole formulations currently used in veterinary practice as fasciolicides. The study was carried out in vivo on Fasciola hepatica at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of age in experimentally infected sheep. To evaluate the formulation, the percent reduction of the parasite load was measured and the number of fluke eggs. Fosfatriclaben was used at 6 mg/kg/IM (dose equivalent to triclabendazole content), closantel at 5% at 10 mg/kg/SC, and triclabendazole at 10 mg/kg/PO; the control group received no treatment. Fosfatriclaben showed fasciolicidal efficacies of 95.5 %, 100 %, 100 % and 100 %, and triclabendazole showed similar efficacies of 97.4 %, 100 %, 100 % and 100 %, at the different treatment weeks (P > 0.05). Closantel showed limited efficacy against 2-, 4- and 6-week-old flukes but 100 % efficacy in adult flukes. All three evaluated formulations eliminated all 8-week-old F. hepatica trematode eggs. Although fosfatriclaben and triclabendazole showed similar fasciolicidal efficacy, the intramuscular administration of fosfatriclaben has several advantages over the oral administration of triclabendazole, such as ease of administration for veterinary use and a reduced risk of accidents for both the operator and the animals. In addition, the dose used in this injectable formulation is only 60 % of the oral dose, which reduces environmental contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Rojas-Campos
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Departamento de Parasitología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
| | - Froylán Ibarra-Velarde
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Departamento de Parasitología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico.
| | - Yolanda Vera-Montenegro
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Departamento de Parasitología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
| | - Miguel Flores-Ramos
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Departamento de Parasitología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico; Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad Mérida, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Carretera Mérida-Tetiz, km 4, Ucú, Yucatán, 97357, Mexico
| | - Irene Cruz-Mendoza
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Departamento de Parasitología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
| | - Gerardo Leyva-Gómez
- Facultad de Química, Departamento de Farmacia, UNAM, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
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Buchwald AG, Grover E, Van Dyke J, Kechris K, Lu D, Liu Y, Zhong B, Carlton EJ. Human Mobility Associated With Risk of Schistosoma japonicum Infection in Sichuan, China. Am J Epidemiol 2021; 190:1243-1252. [PMID: 33438003 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwaa292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Urbanization increases human mobility in ways that can alter the transmission of classically rural, vector-borne diseases like schistosomiasis. The impact of human mobility on individual-level Schistosoma risk is poorly characterized. Travel outside endemic areas may protect against infection by reducing exposure opportunities, whereas travel to other endemic regions may increase risk. Using detailed monthly travel- and water-contact surveys from 27 rural communities in Sichuan, China, in 2008, we aimed to describe human mobility and to identify mobility-related predictors of S. japonicum infection. Candidate predictors included timing, frequency, distance, duration, and purpose of recent travel as well as water-contact measures. Random forests machine learning was used to detect key predictors of individual infection status. Logistic regression was used to assess the strength and direction of associations. Key mobility-related predictors include frequent travel and travel during July-both associated with decreased probability of infection and less time engaged in risky water-contact behavior, suggesting travel may remove opportunities for schistosome exposure. The importance of July travel and July water contact suggests a high-risk window for cercarial exposure. The frequency and timing of human movement out of endemic areas should be considered when assessing potential drivers of rural infectious diseases.
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Bargues MD, Angles R, Coello J, Artigas P, Funatsu IR, Cuervo PF, Buchon P, Mas-Coma S. One Health initiative in the Bolivian Altiplano human fascioliasis hyperendemic area: Lymnaeid biology, population dynamics, microecology and climatic factor influences. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 30:e025620. [PMID: 34076053 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612021014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Fascioliasis is a freshwater snail-borne zoonotic disease. The Northern Bolivian Altiplano is a very high altitude endemic area where the highest human prevalences and intensities have been reported. Preventive chemotherapy by treatment campaigns is yearly applied. However, liver fluke infection of cattle, sheep, pigs and donkeys assures endemicity and consequent human infection and re-infection risks. A One Health action has therefore been implemented. Activity concerns lymnaeid vectors and environment diversity. Studies included growth, egg-laying and life span in laboratory-reared lymnaeids. Different habitat types and influencing factors were assessed. All populations proved to belong to Galba truncatula by rDNA sequencing. Analyses comprised physico-chemical characteristics and monthly follow-up of water temperature, pH and quantity, and lymnaeid abundance and density. Population dynamics in the transmission foci differed. Mean environmental temperature was lower than fluke development minimum temperature threshold, but water temperature was higher, except during winter. A two generations/year pattern appeared in permanent water habitats, and one generation/year pattern in habitats drying out for months. The multidisciplinary control measures can be extended from one part of the endemic area to another. These studies, made for the first time at very high altitude, constitute a baseline useful for fascioliasis control in other countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Dolores Bargues
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - René Angles
- Cátedra de Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés - UMSA, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - José Coello
- Laboratorio de Biología, Colegio "San Calixto", La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Patricio Artigas
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ilra Renata Funatsu
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Pablo Fernando Cuervo
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Paola Buchon
- Unidad de Limnología, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés - UMSA, Campus Universitario de Cota Cota, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Santiago Mas-Coma
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
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Alba A, Vazquez AA, Hurtrez-Boussès S. Towards the comprehension of fasciolosis (re-)emergence: an integrative overview. Parasitology 2021; 148:385-407. [PMID: 33261674 PMCID: PMC11010171 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182020002255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The increasing distribution and prevalence of fasciolosis in both human and livestock are concerning. Here, we examine the various types of factors influencing fasciolosis transmission and burden and the interrelations that may exist between them. We present the arsenal of molecules, 'adjusting' capabilities and parasitic strategies of Fasciola to infect. Such features define the high adaptability of Fasciola species for parasitism that facilitate their transmission. We discuss current environmental perturbations (increase of livestock and land use, climate change, introduction of alien species and biodiversity loss) in relation to fasciolosis dynamics. As Fasciola infection is directly and ultimately linked to livestock management, living conditions and cultural habits, which are also changing under the pressure of globalization and climate change, the social component of transmission is also discussed. Lastly, we examine the implication of increasing scientific and political awareness in highlighting the current circulation of fasciolosis and boosting epidemiological surveys and novel diagnostic techniques. From a joint perspective, it becomes clear that factors weight differently at each place and moment, depending on the biological, environmental, social and political interrelating contexts. Therefore, the analyses of a disease as complex as fasciolosis should be as integrative as possible to dissect the realities featuring each epidemiological scenario. Such a comprehensive appraisal is presented in this review and constitutes its main asset to serve as a fresh integrative understanding of fasciolosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annia Alba
- Centro de Investigaciones, Diagnóstico y Referencia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical ‘Pedro Kourí’, Havana, Cuba
| | - Antonio A. Vazquez
- Centro de Investigaciones, Diagnóstico y Referencia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical ‘Pedro Kourí’, Havana, Cuba
- MIVEGEC, IRD, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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Beltrame L, Rose Vineer H, Walker JG, Morgan ER, Vickerman P, Wagener T. Discovering environmental management opportunities for infectious disease control. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6442. [PMID: 33742016 PMCID: PMC7979760 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85250-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change and emerging drug resistance make the control of many infectious diseases increasingly challenging and diminish the exclusive reliance on drug treatment as sole solution to the problem. As disease transmission often depends on environmental conditions that can be modified, such modifications may become crucial to risk reduction if we can assess their potential benefit at policy-relevant scales. However, so far, the value of environmental management for this purpose has received little attention. Here, using the parasitic disease of fasciolosis in livestock in the UK as a case study, we demonstrate how mechanistic hydro-epidemiological modelling can be applied to understand disease risk drivers and the efficacy of environmental management across a large heterogeneous domain. Our results show how weather and other environmental characteristics interact to define disease transmission potential and reveal that environmental interventions such as risk avoidance management strategies can provide a valuable alternative or complement to current treatment-based control practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovica Beltrame
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. .,Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | - Hannah Rose Vineer
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Eric R Morgan
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | | | - Thorsten Wagener
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.,Cabot Institute for the Environment, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.,Institute for Environmental Science and Geography, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
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Rathinasamy V, Tran L, Swan J, Kelley J, Hosking C, Williamson G, Knowles M, Elliott T, Rawlin G, Spithill TW, Beddoe T. Towards understanding the liver fluke transmission dynamics on farms: Detection of liver fluke transmitting snail and liver fluke-specific environmental DNA in water samples from an irrigated dairy farm in Southeast Australia. Vet Parasitol 2021; 291:109373. [PMID: 33578197 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2021.109373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Livestock production around the world is impacted by liver fluke (Fasciola spp.) infection resulting in serious economic losses to the beef, dairy and sheep industries with significant losses of about $90 million per annum in Australia. Triclabendazole (TCBZ) is the most effective anthelmintic treatment available to control liver fluke infections; however, the widespread emergence of TCBZ resistance in livestock threatens liver fluke control. Alternative control measures to lower exposure of livestock to liver fluke infection would help to preserve the usefulness of current anthelmintic treatments. Environmental DNA (eDNA) based identification of liver fluke and the intermediate snail host in the water bodies is a robust method to assess the risk of liver fluke infection on farms. In this study, we used a multiplex quantitative PCR assay of water samples to detect and quantify eDNA of Fasciola hepatica (F. hepatica) and Austropeplea tomentosa (A. tomentosa), a crucial intermediate snail host for liver fluke transmission in South-east Australia. Water samples were collected from an irrigation channel for a period of 7 months in 2016 (February, March, May, September, October, November and December) at a dairy farm located at Maffra, Victoria, South-east Australia. Using an effective eDNA extraction method, the multiplex qPCR assay allows for the independent but simultaneous detection of eDNA released from liver fluke life stages and snails using specific primers and a probe targeting the ITS-2 region of the liver fluke and snail, respectively, with minimal inhibition from contaminants in field collected water samples. The sensitivity of this assay to detect eDNA of liver fluke and snails was observed to be 14 fg and 50 fg, respectively, in the presence of field collected water samples. Differential levels of liver fluke and snail specific eDNA in water were observed at the time points analysed in this study. The successful detection of eDNA specific to liver fluke and snails from the field collected water samples provides a precedent for the use of this method as a monitoring tool to determine the prevalence of liver fluke and liver fluke-transmitting snails in irrigation regions. Further, this method has the enormous potential to allow an assessment of the liver fluke transmission zones on farms and to inform the application of effective control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vignesh Rathinasamy
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic, Australia; Centre for AgriBioscience, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic, Australia
| | - Lily Tran
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic, Australia; Centre for AgriBioscience, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic, Australia
| | - Jaclyn Swan
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic, Australia; Centre for AgriBioscience, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic, Australia
| | - Jane Kelley
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic, Australia; Centre for AgriBioscience, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic, Australia
| | - Chris Hosking
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic, Australia; Centre for AgriBioscience, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic, Australia
| | - Genevieve Williamson
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic, Australia; Centre for AgriBioscience, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic, Australia
| | - Michaela Knowles
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic, Australia; Centre for AgriBioscience, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic, Australia
| | - Timothy Elliott
- Invetus, Armidale Research Centre, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Grant Rawlin
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic, Australia; Centre for AgriBioscience, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic, Australia; Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, Bundoora, Vic, Australia
| | - Terry W Spithill
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic, Australia; Centre for AgriBioscience, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic, Australia.
| | - Travis Beddoe
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic, Australia; Centre for AgriBioscience, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic, Australia.
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